Bexley Public Library\, Worthington Librar ies\, and Upper Arlington Public Library are pleased to partner with Grame rcy Books to host Louisiana educator\, librarian\, and activist \;Aman da Jones \;who will share her inspiring memoir/manifesto \;Tha t Librarian: \;The Fight Against Book Banning in America\, \; in conversation with \;Amelia Robinson\, Opinion and Community Engagem ent Editor at the \;Columbus Dispatch.
\n&ldquo\;Amanda Jones started getting death threats\, all for standing up for our right t o read . . . but she's not stopped fighting against book bans or stopped a dvocating for access to diverse stories.&rdquo\;--Oprah Winfrey\, in a spe ech at the 2023 National Book Awards.
\nOne of the things small town librarian Amanda Jones values most about books is how they can affirm a y oung person's sense of self. So\, in 2022\, when she caught wind of a loca l public hearing that would discuss &ldquo\;book content\,&rdquo\; she kne w what was at stake. Schools and libraries nationwide have been bombarded by demands for books with LGTBQ+ references\, discussions of racism\, and more to be purged from the shelves. Amanda would be damned if her communit y were to ban stories representing minority groups. She spoke out that nig ht at the meeting. Days later\, she woke up to a nightmare that is still o ngoing.
\nAmanda Jones has been called a groomer\, a pedo\, and a po rn-pusher\; she has faced death threats and attacks from strangers and fri ends alike. Her decision to support a collection of books with diverse per spectives made her a target for extremists using book banning campaigns-fu nded by dark money organizations and advanced by hard right politicians-in a crusade to make America more white\, straight\, and "Christian." But Am anda Jones wouldn't give up without a fight: she sued her harassers for de famation and urged others to join her in the resistance. Mapping the book banning crisis occurring across the nation\, \;That Librarian \;dr aws the battle lines in the war against equity and inclusion\, calling boo k lovers everywhere to rise in defense of our readers.
\nThat Li brarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America \;is Jones's l ove letter to libraries\, reading\, and intellectual freedom\, as well as a testament to her incredible resilience in the face of danger and hatred. This part-memoir\, part-handbook is both an intimate look at how she and her family have endured threats and harassment and an insightful glimpse i nto library procedures and legislation. Jones includes numerous screenshot s\, photos\, and e-mails that\, together\, present a profound and layered image of the landscape of contemporary book banning. Interspersed through the facts and advice are tender\, personal anecdotes and inspiring interac tions with the children she has taught over the years.
\nAmanda Jone s \;has been an educator for 23 years\, at the same middle school she attended as a child. She has served as President of the Louisiana Associat ion of School Librarians and won numerous awards for her work in school li braries\, including \;School Library Journal \;Librarian of the Ye ar. A sought-after keynote speaker\, Amanda is a frequent volunteer for st ate and national library associations\, as well as a co-founder of the Liv ingston Parish Library Alliance and founding member of Louisiana Citizens Against Censorship. She lives in Livingston Parish\, Louisiana.
\nCl eveland native \;Amelia Robinson \;was named the \;Columbu s Dispatch's opinion and community engagement editor in early 2021. S he soon launched &ldquo\;Columbus Conversations\,&rdquo\; a digital town h all series on issues important to the community\, and the &ldquo\;Then Wha t Happened&rdquo\; podcast. Robinson spent 21 years at the \;Dayton Da ily News \;after a three-year stint at the \;Mansfield News Journa l. She has won numerous awards for column\, editorial and feature writing and is an avid community volunteer. A 2020 Kiplinger Program fellow\, Robi nson is a founding member and former long-time president of the Greater Da yton Association of Black Journalists. She resides in the Brewery District with her husband and cats.
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